Corner lock for bedsteads



A Dec. 8, 1942.

' H. RICHARDSON CORNER LOOK FOR BEDSTEADS Filed May 27, 1940 Patented Dec. 8, 1942 UNITED STTES PATENT OFFICE CORNER LOOK FOR BEDSTEADS Henry Richardson, Chicago, Ill.

Application May 27, 1940, Serial N0. 337,347

5 Claims.

This invention relates to corner joints or looks for bedsteads and is devised to provide a simple and improved corner joint for separably connecting the side rails to the corner posts of a bedstead in which said parts are composed either of Wood or any substitute for wood suitable-for the present invention which is limited in its application to bedsteads having side rails and corner posts as above specified.

Wooden bed manufacturers know that a wooden bedstead frame is unstable and cannot maintain its proper rectangular shape when its diagonal movement puts a strain on the side rails that causes an angular movement of the latter. This fault is at present found in most wooden bedsteads, the reason being the use of a corner joint which wedges an end edge of a side rail against a bed corner post but fails to maintain said end edge squarely against said post when there is a diagonal movement of a bed. A rickety bedstead frame is not the only result of the above named fault, a more serious one being that repeated angular movements of a bedstead cause a gradually increased loosening of the corner joint which frequently results in the breakdown of the bedstead.

The primary object of the bed corner joint herein disclosed is to provide a simple combination of means which not only wedge an end edge of a wooden side rail against a wooden corner post of a bedstead, but also permanently maintain a tight wedging of said end edge squarely against said post so that neither frictional wear nor the longitudinal and angular strains borne by said side rail can cause any loosening of said joint.

A novel and valuable feature of the preferred form of the present construction consists of a metal plate which lies entirely within a vertically disposed slot in the side rail as shown by the drawing, said plate being provided with rail wedging means preferably consisting, as shown herein, of an offset portion of said plate, said offset portion having an inclined edge which is substantially square to 'a side surface of said plate.

Valuable commercial advantages of the present construction are its low cost, that a piece of 1 by 1 gumwood may safely be used for the entire corner post of a bedstead, and that gumwood side rails may be 4 inches instead of 5 inches in depth as now commonly used.

The present invention is a modification of and improvement upon the corner joint disclosed in my Letters Patent No. 1,972,1(18, dated September 4, 1934. In this construction it was found that a diagonal movement of a bedstead puts a strain on the plate secured to the inner surface of a wooden side rail which causes this plate to spring or bend so that said rail can not be held squarely against a corner post and consequently there is an angular movement of the side rail which renders the wedging means unsafe, the co-operating wedging formations of this plate and the plate on the corner post being liable to be disengaged. I

The preferred embodiment of the structural principle of the present invention comprises a bed corner post, a side rail, and a pair of substantially flat metal plates secured respectively with the corner post and side rail each provided with cooperating wedging means, one of which means projects laterally of its plate, the plate on the side rail being secured entirely within a vertically disposed slot formed through an end edge of said side rail and spaced from both the outer and inner side surfaces of said rail, the other of said plates being secured within a vertically disposed slot in said corner post and projecting from the latter to constitute a bracket plate, the rail wedging means on the plate secured entirely within the slot in an end edge of a side rail cooperating with the' rail wedging means on a bracket plate to wedge the side rail against a corner post at one end of a bedstead, and similarly co-operating with the rail wedging means on a bracket plate to wedge the said side rail against a corner post at the other end of the bedstead when the side rail is inverted and turned end for end.

Either of the above mentioned pair of metal plates may be secured to. a bed corner post or side rail as will be seen by referring to the drawing. Any suitable rail wedging means may be carried by the said pair of plates in place of the preferred form of said means shown herein.

The plate described as being secured entirely within a slot is preferably held against a lateral movement therein which would interfere with the entry of the co-operating plate into said slot, the preferred means to prevent said lateral movement including a narrowed inner end portion of said slot provided by means of a shoulder formed on one side of said slot.

Other advantages of this invention than those mentioned herein will be apparent to persons familiar with devices of this character from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure l is a side elevation of a bedstead corner construction embodying one form of my invention with parts broken away and shown in section;

Figure 2 is a section substantially on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a section substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a side elevation of a bedstead corner construction embodying another form of my invention with parts broken away and shown in section; and

Figure 5 is a section substantially on the line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Referring to Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the drawing, l designates a wooden corner post of a bed end and 2 designates a wooden side rail of the bed which is provided with a usual slat supporting ledge 3 at one longitudinal edge thereof. The corner post is vertically slotted at and interme: diately of its front face, as designated at 4, to provide a portion of said face lying on one side and the remaining portion of said face lying on the other side of the slot and to receive a metal plate 5, constituting a bracket plate, which is firmly secured in the slot by metal .pins 6. The plate 5 projects from the front face of the corner post and the projecting portion of the plate is provided with a slot 1 extending downwardly from the upper edge thereof and forming a wedging surface 8 facing and downwardly inclined toward the corner post.

The side rail 2 is provided with a vertically dis-- posed slot 9 formed through an end edge thereof and spaced from both the outer and inner side faces thereof, this slot opening through the top and bottom horizontal surfaces of the rail and being formed with a shoulder II to provide "a narrowed inner end portion [2 of the slot.

Another metal plate 13 is disposed entirely within the slot 9 and has its inner end snugly engaged in the narrower inner portion l2 of this slot and is secured with the side rail at said narrower inner portion by metal pins M. The plate i3 is provided with a vertically extending lateral extrusion l5 at the outer or wider portion of the slot 9, the thickness of this plate at the extrusion being substantially the same as the width of the wider portion of this slot. The extrusion l5 provides two wedging surfaces It and i! facing inwardly of the adjacent rail end and projecting laterally of the plane of the plate l3, the upper surface 16 inclining downwardly away from the adjacent rail end and the lower surface I! inclining upwardly away from the adjacent rail end.

The side rail 2 is locked on the corner post I by engaging the bracket plate 5 in the slot 9 at the side of the plate 13 and moving the side rail downwardly to engage the wedging surface 8 of the plate 5 with one of the wedging surfaces l6 and H of the plate iii to wedge the side rail against the corner post.

It will be observed that, in as much as the engaged portions of the plates 5 and I3 are disposed in the slot 9 of the side rail and the rail engages the corner post on both sides of the plates, the plates are securely held against bending and support one anotherto rigidly withstand the strains caused by the diagonal movements of a bedstead, so that as the side rail is not subjected to such strains, the end edge of the-side rail will always be maintained in squarely wedged contact against the corner post which means that angular movement of the side rail is prevented, as best shown by Figures 2 and 5.

It will also be observed that, in as much as the plate 5 may enter the slot 9 from either longitudinal edge of the rail and the wedging surfaces IB and l! of the plate [3 are oppositely disposed, the side rail may be inverted and turned end for end to pgsition the ledge 3 either at the top or bottom of the rail so as to accommodate either slats or a bed spring on top of the rail in which latter case the ledge 3 being flush with the topedge of the rail provides a bearing of safe width. Further, the two oppositely disposed wedging surfaces on the plate l3 obviates right and left plates as the plate may be inverted as occasion may require.

Referring to Figures 4 and 5, showing a differentform of the invention, the corner post and side rail construction shown therein is identical to that of Figures 1, 2 and 3 and the same reference characters are given thereto without repeating the description.

In Figures 4 and 5, a metal plate l8, constituting a bracket plate, is secured in the slot 4 of the corner post I by metal pins I9. The plate l8 projects from the front face of the corner post and the projecting portion of the plate is provided with a vertically extending lateral extrusion 2| which provides two wedging surfaces 22 and 23 projecting laterally of the plane of the plate and facing the corner post, the upper surface 22 inclining downwardly toward the corner post and the lower surface 23 inclining upwardly toward the corner post.

Another metal plate 24 is disposed entirely within the slot 9 and has its inner end snugly engaged in the narrower portion l2 of this slot and is secured'with the side rail at said narrower inner portion by metal pins 25. The plate 24 is provided with vertically extending slots 26 and 21 extending respectively inwardly of the upper and lower edges thereof at the outer or wider portion of the slot 9, and the slot 26 forms a wedging surface 28 facing inwardly of and inclining downwardly away from the adjacent rail end and the slot 21 forms a wedging surface 29 facing inwardly of and inclining upwardly away from the adjacent rail end.

When the side rail 2 of Figures 4 and 5 is locked on the corner post I as shown therein, the plate I3 is engaged in the slot 9 at the side of the plate 24 with the wedging surface 22 of the plate I8 engaged with the wedging surface 29 of the plate 24. The additional wedging surface 23 on the plate I8 is provided to obviate left and right plates by inverting the plate as occasion may require in which case the wedging surface 23 is disposed upwardly and functions in the same manner as does the wedging surface 22. If the side rail is inverted and turned end for end for the purpose above described the wedging surfaces 28 of the plates 24 at the opposite ends of the side rail are engaged respectively with the wedging surface 22 and the wedging surface 23 of the plates I8 of the opposing corner posts.

Manifestly changes may be made in the specific forms, construction and arrangement of the parts of the bed corner joint herein shown and described within the principle of the invention. Therefore it is to be understood that I reserve all modifications falling within the spirit and purview of the claims.

I claim:

1. In a corner joint for bedsteads the combination of a bed corner post and a side rail, the first named part having a vertically disposed slot formed through its front surface, a portion of said surface lying on one side and the remaining portion lying on the other side of said slot, the second named part having a vertically disposed slot formed through an end edge and spaced from both the outer and inner side surfaces of said second named part, a metal plate provided on a side surface thereof with laterally projecting rail wedging means having an edge which is substantially perpendicular or square to said surface, said plate being inserted entirely within one of said slots and secured therein by means including upper and lower pins which are passed through said plate outwardly of the free inner end edge of the latter, and a metal plate having a portion thereof inserted within the other of said slots and its remaining portion projecting outwardly of the latter to constitute a bracket plate carrying rail Wedging means, the portion of said last named plate inserted within said slot being secured therein by means including upper and lower pins which are passed through said plate outwardly of thefree inner end edge of the latter, insertion of the said bracket plate on one of the said parts into the slot in the other of said parts, sidewise of the plate secured entirely therein, followed by, a downward movement of the side rail, brings the rail wedging means on said last named plate into co-operation with the rail wedging means on said bracket plate which eifects and maintains a wedging of said side rail against said corner post.

2. In a corner joint for bedsteads the combination of a bed corner post and a side rail, the first named part having a vertically disposed slot formed through its front surface, a portion of said surface lying on one side and the remaining portion lying on the other side of said slot, the second named part having a vertically disposed slot formed through an end edge and spaced from both the outer and inner side surfaces of said second named part, a metal plate having a portion offset therefrom, said offset portion havmg an inclined edge which is substantially square to a side surface of said plate, said plate being inserted entirely within one of said slots and secured therein by means including upper and lower pins which are passed through said plate outwardly of the free inner end edge of the latter, and a metal plate having a portion thereof inserted within the other of said slots and its remaining portion projecting outwardly of the latter to constitute a bracket plate formed with a rail wedging edge downwardly inclined towards said bed corner post, the portion of said last named plate inserted within said slot being secured therein by means including upper and lower pins which are passed through said plate outwardly of the free inner end edge of the latter, insertion of the said bracket plate on one of the said parts into the slot in the other of said parts, sidewise of the plate secured entirely therein, followed by a downward movement of the side rail brings the inclined edge of the offset on said last named plate into co-operation with the inclined edge on said bracket plate whereby wedging of said side rail against said bed corner post is effected and maintained.

3. In a corner joint for bedsteads the combination of a bed corner post and a side rail, a vertically disposed slot formed through the front surface of said post and spaced from both sides of the latter, a substantially flat metal bracket plate secured in and projecting outwardly of said slot, a vertically disposed slot formed through an end edge of said side rail substantially centrally of said edge, said last named slot having a width adequate to accommodate a second substantially flat metal plate secured and located entirely therein and to provide a recess between a side surface of this slot and a side surface of said second plate for said bracket plate, one of said plates being formed with an inclined rail wedging edge, the other of said plates carrying rail wedging means having a surface or edge projecting from and substantially perpendicular or square to a side surface thereof for engagement with said wedging edge, entry of said bracket plate into said recess bringing said projecting rail wedging means and rail wedging edge into cooperation with one another, entirely within the slot in the side rail, said cooperation Wedgingly maintaining an end edge of said side rail squarely against said corner post when the joint is subjected to the strains caused by angular movements of a bedstead.

4. In a corner joint for bedsteads, the combination of a bed corner post and a side rail, the front surface of said first named member being formed with a vertically disposed slot spaced from both side surfaces of said member, a vertically disposed slot formed through an end edge of the second named member and spaced from both side surfaces of the latter, a substantially flat metal plate secured within and extending outwardly from the slot in one of said members to constitute a bracket plate carrying rail wedging means, and a second substantially flat metal plate, carrying rail wedging means, secured and located entirely within the slot in the other 01' said members and spaced from a side surface or the slot to provide a recess for said bracket plate, one of said rail wedging means having surface or edge which projects laterally of and is substantially perpendicular or square to a side surface of the plate on which it is carried, said rail wedging means cooperating with one another entirely within one of said members to wedgingly maintain an end edge of said side rail squareiy against said corner post.

5. In a corner joint for bedsteads, the combination of a bed corner post and a side rail, the front surface of the first named member being provided with a vertically disposed slot spaced from both side surfaces of said member, a bracket plate having a portion secured within said slot by means including a pair of spaced pins, the remaining portion projecting outwardly from said slot, a vertically disposed slot formed through an end edge of said second named member and spaced from both side surfaces of the latter, said last named slot having a width necessary to accommodate a metal plate secured entirely therein by a pair of spaced pins and to provide a recess for said bracket plate, one of said plates being provided with an inclined rail wedging edge, a portion of the other of said plates being offset to form an inclined rail wedging edge which projects from and is substantially square to a side surface of said plate, entry of said bracket plate into said recess bringing said inclined edges into cooperation with one another entirely within the slot in the side-rail, said cooperation being adapted to wedgingly maintain an end edge of the side rail squarely against a bed corner post when the joint is subjected to the strains caused by angular movements of a bedstead.

HENRY RICHARDSON. 

